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Gwathmey TM, Williams KL, Caban-Holt A, Starks TD, Foy CG, Mathews A, Byrd GS. Building a Community Partnership for the Development of Health Ministries Within the African American Community: The Triad Pastors Network. J Community Health 2024; 49:559-567. [PMID: 38265538 PMCID: PMC10981582 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-023-01315-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
African Americans continue to have worse health outcomes despite attempts to reduce health disparities. This is due, in part, to inadequate access to healthcare, but also to the health care and medical mistrust experienced by communities of color. Churches and worship centers have historically served as cultural centers of trusted resources for educational, financial, and health information within African American communities and a growing number of collaborations have developed between academic institutions and community/faith entities. Herein, we describe the infrastructure of a true and sustainable partnership developed with > 100 prominent faith leaders within the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina for the purpose of developing or expanding existing health ministries within houses of worship, to improve health literacy and overall health long-term. The Triad Pastors Network is an asset-based partnership between the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and faith leaders in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina that was created under the guiding principles of community engagement to improve health equity and decrease health disparities experienced by African American communities. A partnership in which co-equality and shared governance are the core of the framework provides an effective means of achieving health-related goals in a productive and efficient manner. Faith-based partnerships are reliable approaches for improving the health literacy needed to address health disparities and inequities in communities of color.
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Affiliation(s)
- TanYa M Gwathmey
- Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
- Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Department of Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Biotech Place - 575 N. Patterson Avenue, Suite #340, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA.
| | - K Lamonte Williams
- Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Allison Caban-Holt
- Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Takiyah D Starks
- Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Capri G Foy
- Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Allison Mathews
- COMPASS Initiative Faith Coordinating Center, Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Goldie S Byrd
- Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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Rosenthal AE, Spezia M, Sosnowy C, Chan PA. Acceptability of HIV Prevention Approaches Among USA Faith-Based Leaders. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023; 62:1658-1675. [PMID: 36515812 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-022-01705-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
HIV/AIDS disproportionately impacts underserved communities in the USA. This study evaluated the acceptability of partnering with faith communities to improve HIV prevention, screening, and engagement in care with a focus on Hispanic/Latinx (H/L) communities. We engaged faith-based leaders to identify how the cultural competence and foundations of trust within these communities may be leveraged to improve HIV-related healthcare access for underserved groups including H/L individuals. Using a semi-structured qualitative interview approach, we interviewed N = 20 faith-based leaders in Providence County, Rhode Island (RI). Data were analyzed using the framework approach which utilized inductive generation of themes and systematic grouping into predetermined categories. Seven of the 20 interviewees self-identified as H/L faith leaders and discussed needs specific to H/L communities including destigmatization of HIV, increased access to care, and partnerships founded on mutual respect. The other 13 faith leaders did not personally identify as H/L but all served communities with significant H/L populations. We included these individuals given their communities already performed HIV and/or other health outreach and could provide insight into what approaches could be adapted to the needs expressed by H/L leaders. All interviewees were accepting of developing partnerships with outside organizations to engage in HIV prevention, and all identified potential solutions to identified barriers. Results suggested that faith-based outreach should be further investigated as a method of improving HIV prevention in the general and H/L populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex E Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Marie Spezia
- Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Collette Sosnowy
- Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Philip A Chan
- Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
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Chen X, Liu C, Cui Z, Huang Y, Luo Q, Chen S, Wang X, Hou X, Gong Q, Li Y, Qiu J, Zhang Y, Chen P, Yang Y, Zhuang J, Yu K. Integrative transcriptomics analysis and experimental validation reveal immunomodulatory patterns in keratoconus. Exp Eye Res 2023; 230:109460. [PMID: 37001853 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Keratoconus is a progressive disorder of the cornea and is typically considered a noninflammatory disease. However, increasing evidence indicates that immune disorders play an essential role in keratoconus progression, but the immune-related etiology remains elusive. Here, we comprehensively utilized bioinformatics approaches and experimental methods to explore the potential immunoregulatory mechanism of keratoconus progression. Transcriptomics data containing two keratoconus patient groups was derived from the public dataset GSE151631. The intersection of genes and known immunological genes was used to obtain differentially expressed immune-related genes. We utilized various protein clustering algorithms to screen out and validated the hub immune-related genes, and further explored their potential biological functions via gene annotation and pathway enrichment analyses. Moreover, the underlying immune landscape and drug targets were predicted by immune cell infiltration analysis and drug-gene interaction analysis. Furthermore, keratoconus-related immunoregulatory competitive endogenous RNA networks were constructed and experimentally validated. After filtering and experimental validation, nine keratoconus-associated immune-related genes were credible. Infiltrated monocytes might play an essential role in the progression of keratoconus. Moreover, eleven intersecting drugs targeting four genes, CCR2, CCR5, F2RL1, and ADORA1, were considered as potential druggable molecular targets for keratoconus. Furthermore, in the competitive endogenous RNA network, we identified several lncRNAs and miRNAs as critical noncoding RNAs regulating the hub genes. Overall, our data indicated that the immunomodulatory patterns had undergone changes in the pathogenesis of keratoconus, which might facilitate the understanding of keratoconus-related immune processes and provide novel insights into developing new immunotherapies for keratoconus.
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Belden M, Reif S, Cooper H, Shilling S, Mouhanna F, Hipp P, Siegler A. The geographic reach of community-based organizations in addressing HIV-related stigma in the Deep South. AIDS Care 2022; 34:60-68. [PMID: 34632864 PMCID: PMC8758532 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1978379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Community-based organizations (CBOs) have been instrumental in addressing the needs of people living with HIV, however, little is known about their efforts to address HIV-related stigma through stigma reduction efforts. This study examined practices of CBOs related to mitigating HIV-related stigma in nine Deep South states. CBOs were surveyed as part of a larger study through the Gilead COMPASS Initiative. The CBO survey asked CBO leadership about stigma in their communities and services available to address this stigma. Survey respondents (n = 207) indicated that HIV-related stigma was perceived as a substantial barrier to both HIV care and CBO services. Although just over two-thirds of survey participants reported that there were group-level programs to address HIV-related stigma, 73% reported that there were not enough interventions to meet the need in their community. Further, 68% reported a lack of individual-level stigma reduction interventions. A majority reported a lack of public media campaigns to address stigma and a lack of training available to assist CBOs to address stigma. In addition, services to address stigma were reportedly less available in rural areas compared to their urban counterparts. Study findings indicate a need to identify, implement, and scale-up effective interventions to reduce HIV stigma in the US Deep South.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micha Belden
- Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Susan Reif
- Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Haley Cooper
- Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sara Shilling
- Center for Health Policy and Inequalities Research, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Farah Mouhanna
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Palmer Hipp
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aaron Siegler
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Scott D, Pereira NM, Harrison SE, Zarwell M, Sanasi-Bhola K, Poteat T. "In the Bible Belt:" The role of religion in HIV care and prevention for transgender people in the United States South. Health Place 2021; 70:102613. [PMID: 34186379 PMCID: PMC8922555 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Within the United States South, the socio-religious norms that shape life for many residents may have public health implications. Drawing from 12 key informant interviews, this study explores the role of religious institutions in HIV care and prevention access among transgender people of color in Southern cities. Findings suggest that while religious anti-transgender stigma is pervasive, the regional importance of faith-based beliefs and institutions necessitates targeted faith-based initiatives for the population. Broadly, findings suggest regional environments may demand interventions that negotiate historically marginalizing relationships between at-risk groups and dominant cultural institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Scott
- Department of Geography, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA.
| | - Nastacia M Pereira
- Department of Social Medicine, Center for Health Equity Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Sayward E Harrison
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Smart State Center for Healthcare Quality, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Meagan Zarwell
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA
| | - Kamla Sanasi-Bhola
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Prisma Health/University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Tonia Poteat
- Center for Health Equity Research, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, USA
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Campbell AD, Szaflarski M. Health programming priorities among faith communities in Jefferson County, Alabama. JOURNAL OF RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY IN SOCIAL WORK 2021; 40:371-394. [PMID: 35002549 PMCID: PMC8741115 DOI: 10.1080/15426432.2021.1907837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper details findings from interviews with 32 faith leaders regarding their interest in and preferences for collaborative health partnerships with an academic center. Participants were willing to partner to develop equitable, sustainable, and trust-based relationships for the purpose of meeting the health needs of their congregations. We also describe the planning and early development of faith community-academic partnership focused on providing information and resources aimed at improving health. We apply a framework incorporating a socioecological perspective and social capital theory to discuss how establishing linkages between clergy and academic researchers is a beneficial and important task for social work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony D. Campbell
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
| | - Magdalena Szaflarski
- Department of Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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An Exploration of U.S. Southern Faith Leaders' Perspectives of HIV Prevention, Sexuality, and Sexual Health Teachings. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17165734. [PMID: 32784415 PMCID: PMC7460533 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Reducing human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) racial/ethnic disparities in the Deep South has been a critical objective of the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy. This finding, originally published in 2010 by the Office of National AIDS Policy, serves as a complement to the Health and Human Resources and Services Administration’s Ending the HIV Epidemic (EtHE): A Plan for America. The EtHE plan, released in 2019, emphasizes community stakeholder involvement to achieve the planning goals of decreasing new HIV infections in key U.S. geographic areas. According to the plan, an important stakeholder is faith leaders, especially around stigma reduction. This paper focuses on a community–academic research partnership’s exploration of southern Black faith leaders’ teaching perspectives regarding HIV prevention, sexuality, and sexual health in predominantly Black congregations in Memphis, Tennessee. The partnership conducted four focus groups using a semi-structured discussion interview. Any adult faith leader involved in ministry work in a predominantly Black church was eligible to participate in the discussion. A total of 26 faith leaders with a mean age of 54, representing four Christian denominations, consented to participate in the study. Emerging themes included: (1) restriction of scripture to teach prevention and address sexuality, (2) role of secrecy and silence in living with HIV, and (3) impact of the stigma of HIV and sexuality. Findings may inform nationwide jurisdictional implementation plans, particularly for faith-based interventions in southern churches working toward ending the HIV epidemic.
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Vigliotti V, Taggart T, Walker M, Kusmastuti S, Ransome Y. Religion, faith, and spirituality influences on HIV prevention activities: A scoping review. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234720. [PMID: 32544212 PMCID: PMC7297313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Strategies to increase uptake of next-generation biomedical prevention technologies (e.g., long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)) can benefit from understanding associations between religion, faith, and spirituality (RFS) and current primary HIV prevention activities (e.g., condoms and oral PrEP) along with the mechanisms which underlie these associations. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, Academic Search Premier, Web of Science, and Sociological Abstracts for empirical articles that investigated and quantified relationships between RFS and primary HIV prevention activities outlined by the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services: condom use, HIV and STI testing, number of sexual partners, injection drug use treatment, medical male circumcision, and PrEP. We included articles in English language published between 2000 and 2020. We coded and analyzed studies based on a conceptual model. We then developed summary tables to describe the relation between RFS variables and the HIV prevention activities and any underlying mechanisms. We used CiteNetExplorer to analyze citation patterns. RESULTS We identified 2881 unique manuscripts and reviewed 29. The earliest eligible study was published in 2001, 41% were from Africa and 48% were from the U.S. RFS measures included attendance at religious services or interventions in religious settings; religious and/or spirituality scales, and measures that represent the influence of religion on behaviors. Twelve studies included multiple RFS measures. Twenty-one studies examined RFS in association with condom use, ten with HIV testing, nine with number of sexual partners, and one with PrEP. Fourteen (48%) documented a positive or protective association between all RFS factors examined and one or more HIV prevention activities. Among studies reporting a positive association, beliefs and values related to sexuality was the most frequently observed mechanism. Among studies reporting negative associations, behavioral norms, social influence, and beliefs and values related to sexuality were observed equally. Studies infrequently cited each other. CONCLUSION More than half of the studies in this review reported a positive/protective association between RFS and HIV prevention activities, with condom use being the most frequently studied, and all having some protective association with HIV testing behaviors. Beliefs and values related to sexuality are possible mechanisms that could underpin RFS-related HIV prevention interventions. More studies are needed on PrEP and spirituality/subjective religiosity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Vigliotti
- Robbins Institute for Health Policy & Leadership, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tamara Taggart
- Department Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University School of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Mahaya Walker
- Department Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Sasmita Kusmastuti
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Kobenhavns, Denmark
| | - Yusuf Ransome
- Department Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Nunn A, Jeffries WL, Foster P, McCoy K, Sutten-Coats C, Willie TC, Ransome Y, Lanzi RG, Jackson E, Berkley-Patton J, Keefer M, Coleman JD. Reducing the African American HIV Disease Burden in the Deep South: Addressing the Role of Faith and Spirituality. AIDS Behav 2019; 23:319-330. [PMID: 31444712 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02631-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nearly half of HIV infections in the United States are concentrated among African Americans, and over half of new HIV infections occur in the South. African Americans have poorer outcomes in the entire continua of HIV and PrEP care. Complex social, structural, and behavioral factors contribute to our nation's alarming racial disparities in HIV infection, particularly in the Deep South. Despite the importance of faith, spirituality and religious practice in the lives of many African Americans, there has been little scientific investment exploring how African Americans' religious participation, faith and spirituality may impact our nation's HIV epidemic. This article summarizes the state of the science on this critical issue. We also identify opportunities for new scholarship on how faith, spirituality and religious participation may impact HIV care continuum outcomes in the South and call for greater federal research investment on these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Nunn
- Center for Health Equity Research, Brown University, 121 S. Main St, G-810, Providence, RI, 02903, USA.
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, USA.
| | - William L Jeffries
- Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Antlanta, USA
| | - Pamela Foster
- Department of Community Medicine/Population Health, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa Regional Campus, Tuscaloosa, USA
| | - Katryna McCoy
- School of Nursing & Health Studies, University of Washington - Bothell, Bothell, USA
| | - Cassandra Sutten-Coats
- Center for Health Equity Research, Brown University, 121 S. Main St, G-810, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, USA
| | - Tiara C Willie
- Rhode Island Public Health Institute, Providence, USA
- Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, USA
| | - Yusuf Ransome
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA
| | - Robin Gaines Lanzi
- Department of Health Behavior, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Edward Jackson
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | | | - Michael Keefer
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, USA
| | - Jason D Coleman
- School of Health and Kinesiology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, USA
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